Protecting Our Oceans: Sustainable Business Strategies for a Blue Future
The growing urgency to protect our oceans
Once considered vast and resilient, the ocean is now recognized as vulnerable and in danger — with its future at risk due to a persistent lack of action and investment in its restoration.
The ocean plays a crucial role in sustaining life. It produces much of the oxygen we breathe, helps regulate climate, and forms a significant source of food for communities across the globe. However, the growing imbalance between what we extract and what we replenish is threatening its ability to continue delivering these essential services.
About half of the world’s oxygen originates in the ocean, which also acts as a major carbon sink, removing 25% of CO₂ emissions and absorbing nearly 90% of excess atmospheric heat. Furthermore, nearly 20% of human per capita animal protein comes from the sea.
The pressures on the ocean are mounting — from growing amounts of plastic waste and acidification to overfishing, tourism pressures, and industrial activity. An estimated two million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, while overfishing has grown from 10% to nearly 40% in the last 50 years.
World Oceans Day, recognized every June 8th, focuses on honoring this essential ecosystem. This year’s theme — “Wonder”— invites us to appreciate its magnificence and reflect on the growing need to care for it. Proper protection and responsible management can enable its recovery.
Businesses can make a decisive contribution to restoring balance by employing nature-positive strategies, unlocking financing, subsidies, and incentives for conserving and revitalizing marine habitats. Research shows these strategies can provide up to five times greater financial rewards than their implementation costs.
Values at risk from ongoing decline
Communities and economies directly depend on healthy oceans. Currently, the ocean’s annual economic contribution stands at US$ 2.5 trillion, with a total asset base valued at US$ 24 trillion, while over 3 billion livelihoods rely upon its resources.
Some sectors are increasingly vulnerable — overfishing, for instance, is threatening both industry stability and food chains, with nearly 38% of stocks overfished. The health of coral reefs, which collectively contribute US$ 375 billion in services, is deteriorating due to climate stress, tourism, and other pressures.
Greenhouse gas emissions further undermine the ability of the ocean to act as a climate buffer — warming and acidifying its waters — with serious ramifications for both climate stability and the health of marine species.
Expanding opportunities in ocean-related sectors
While many companies predominantly pursue terrestrial or green initiatives, growing awareness underscores the opportunity for greater investment in blue solutions — delivering financial, environmental, and social benefits.
The blue economy offers a path toward more sustainable and equitable growth. According to the World Economic Forum, nature-related investment in the ocean could produce up to US$ 10 trillion in value and 395 million jobs by 2030.
This growing market includes sectors with strong expansion potential, many of which currently face limited competition:
Once considered vast and resilient, the ocean is now recognized as vulnerable and in danger — with its future at risk due to a persistent lack of action and investment in its restoration.
The ocean plays a crucial role in sustaining life. It produces much of the oxygen we breathe, helps regulate climate, and forms a significant source of food for communities across the globe. However, the growing imbalance between what we extract and what we replenish is threatening its ability to continue delivering these essential services.
About half of the world’s oxygen originates in the ocean, which also acts as a major carbon sink, removing 25% of CO₂ emissions and absorbing nearly 90% of excess atmospheric heat. Furthermore, nearly 20% of human per capita animal protein comes from the sea.
The pressures on the ocean are mounting — from growing amounts of plastic waste and acidification to overfishing, tourism pressures, and industrial activity. An estimated two million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, while overfishing has grown from 10% to nearly 40% in the last 50 years.
World Oceans Day, recognized every June 8th, focuses on honoring this essential ecosystem. This year’s theme — “Wonder”— invites us to appreciate its magnificence and reflect on the growing need to care for it. Proper protection and responsible management can enable its recovery.
Businesses can make a decisive contribution to restoring balance by employing nature-positive strategies, unlocking financing, subsidies, and incentives for conserving and revitalizing marine habitats. Research shows these strategies can provide up to five times greater financial rewards than their implementation costs.
Values at risk from ongoing decline
Communities and economies directly depend on healthy oceans. Currently, the ocean’s annual economic contribution stands at US$ 2.5 trillion, with a total asset base valued at US$ 24 trillion, while over 3 billion livelihoods rely upon its resources.
Some sectors are increasingly vulnerable — overfishing, for instance, is threatening both industry stability and food chains, with nearly 38% of stocks overfished. The health of coral reefs, which collectively contribute US$ 375 billion in services, is deteriorating due to climate stress, tourism, and other pressures.
Greenhouse gas emissions further undermine the ability of the ocean to act as a climate buffer — warming and acidifying its waters — with serious ramifications for both climate stability and the health of marine species.
Expanding opportunities in ocean-related sectors
While many companies predominantly pursue terrestrial or green initiatives, growing awareness underscores the opportunity for greater investment in blue solutions — delivering financial, environmental, and social benefits.
The blue economy offers a path toward more sustainable and equitable growth. According to the World Economic Forum, nature-related investment in the ocean could produce up to US$ 10 trillion in value and 395 million jobs by 2030.
This growing market includes sectors with strong expansion potential, many of which currently face limited competition:
- Marine biotechnology — projected to grow from nearly US$ 7 billion in 2024 to over US$ 11 billion by 2032 — developing innovations for food, medicines, cosmetics, and other products. An example includes the NOMORFILM project, which is investigating antibiotic compounds from microalgae.
- Aquaculture, a growing industry with annual sales valued at US$ 453 billion (with US$ 296 billion stemming from farmed species), is poised for further expansion — especially in many developing country settings.
- Offshore and coastal renewable energy (such as offshore wind, wave, and solar) shows tremendous potential, with offshore wind alone projected to enable up to 4.5 Gt of CO₂ removal by 2050 alongside financial benefits of up to US$ 6.8 trillion.
Meanwhile, traditional sectors like fisheries and shipping are transitioning toward greater sustainability. The new framework for international regulations, for instance, phases in tighter emissions standards and introduces payments for high-emitting ships — further reducing their carbon footprint.
As the blue economy evolves, financial incentives for conserving nature will grow alongside financial returns. This forward-thinking approach can aid companies in strengthening their operations while preserving the resources upon which their future depends.
Turning policy into action
Support for conserving nature can feel challenging and overwhelming — but collective action makes a big difference. World Ocean Day helps bring stakeholders together to appreciate the significance of healthy oceans.
Businesses can accelerate their own progress by choosing nature-centric strategies — turning policy goals into effective action. This involves adding blue initiatives to climate plans, employing financial mechanisms to enable restoration, and developing strong communications campaigns alongside their implementation.
Collaborations with organizations, initiatives, and policy mechanisms — from Oceana and the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance to the Blue Marine Foundation — can aid companies in conserving the ocean while strengthening their own financial futures.
This collective momentum will be a key focus at the June 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France — following directly after World Ocean Day. The Nice Action Plan aims to drive forward initiatives in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (conserve and protect life under water) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets a target to protect 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine habitats.
Effective storytelling is a powerful way to aid this process — helping stakeholders appreciate both the danger facing the ocean and its immense value. The new documentary Ocean, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, underscores the necessity of conserving the greatest ecosystem on our planet. “I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
The message is clear: the time for action is now. Empowering companies to contribute to conserving what sustains us guarantees a viable future for all.
How KPMG can help
At KPMG, we collaborate with organizations to help them realize their blue economy strategies. Our team guides companies in integrating blue initiatives within their climate plans and navigating related financial incentives.
We aid firms in accessing funding for their blue-related projects, aligning their initiatives with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, and employing data and climate scenario analyses to aid in decision making.
Through our expertise in climate adaptation, water asset management, and financial mechanisms, we enable companies to protect their operations while strengthening their financial future — and preserving a healthy ocean for generations to come.
As the blue economy evolves, financial incentives for conserving nature will grow alongside financial returns. This forward-thinking approach can aid companies in strengthening their operations while preserving the resources upon which their future depends.
Turning policy into action
Support for conserving nature can feel challenging and overwhelming — but collective action makes a big difference. World Ocean Day helps bring stakeholders together to appreciate the significance of healthy oceans.
Businesses can accelerate their own progress by choosing nature-centric strategies — turning policy goals into effective action. This involves adding blue initiatives to climate plans, employing financial mechanisms to enable restoration, and developing strong communications campaigns alongside their implementation.
Collaborations with organizations, initiatives, and policy mechanisms — from Oceana and the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance to the Blue Marine Foundation — can aid companies in conserving the ocean while strengthening their own financial futures.
This collective momentum will be a key focus at the June 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France — following directly after World Ocean Day. The Nice Action Plan aims to drive forward initiatives in support of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (conserve and protect life under water) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets a target to protect 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine habitats.
Effective storytelling is a powerful way to aid this process — helping stakeholders appreciate both the danger facing the ocean and its immense value. The new documentary Ocean, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, underscores the necessity of conserving the greatest ecosystem on our planet. “I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”
The message is clear: the time for action is now. Empowering companies to contribute to conserving what sustains us guarantees a viable future for all.
How KPMG can help
At KPMG, we collaborate with organizations to help them realize their blue economy strategies. Our team guides companies in integrating blue initiatives within their climate plans and navigating related financial incentives.
We aid firms in accessing funding for their blue-related projects, aligning their initiatives with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, and employing data and climate scenario analyses to aid in decision making.
Through our expertise in climate adaptation, water asset management, and financial mechanisms, we enable companies to protect their operations while strengthening their financial future — and preserving a healthy ocean for generations to come.
Companies